Minor B Football Championship: Round Tower 3-10 v Castleknock 2-17, Sunday 23rd September 2018, Monastery Road
Our Minor Footballers suffered a second consecutive setback in their Minor B Championship campaign coming out the wrong side of a very competitive encounter against Castleknock, writes Mick McGlynn. Pictures kind courtesy Tom Leech.
Towers struggled initially to gain momentum against an impressive Castleknock side and were three points down within three minutes. But we gained a foothold and started to create openings. The visitors bright start was almost undone when Joey Leech broke inside and stuck powerfully but it deflected wide off the post. Our first score arrived courtesy of Alex O’Neill. Jack Halpin won possession in midfield and combined with Liam O’Connor, with O’Neill’s left foot strike from the 40 successfully completing the move. Castleknock registered their fourth but on the eight minute mark the goal arrived for the home side and the sides were level. Joe Murray fielded in midfield and released Leech who attacked at pace down the left. O’Connor had a strike at goal blocked but Andrew Rigany was onto the break and powered it past the keeper. Castleknock responded emphatically, kicking four without reply. Then Matthew Kelly, who was instrumental in the half-back line throughout, won the visitors kick-out and picked a point off from the left. O’Connor then curled over an outstanding score with his right, with Lee Moran carrying from defence and Seán Casey providing the assist. On the 22 minute mark we registered our second net. Again Kelly won in the half-backs and the supporting O’Neill arched a pass into the inside forwards. Casey read the bounce that deceived his marker and struck across the keeper to the top corner. Our third arrived on the 24 minute mark when an O’Neill 45 deceived the visiting keeper. With Towers now four clear, 3-3 v 0-8, both sides were then reduced to 14, with the influential O’Neill the Towers player sent to the line. The distraction led to Castleknock’s first goal of the game when, from the subsequent throw-in, they drove forward and their right-half forward Ronan McCann finished high past keeper Oisín Douglas. A fisted point led to the visitors equalising but a lovely dink pass inside by O’Connor enabled Leech edge us a point clear, with Moran, Eoin Richardson and Rigany combining well in the build-up.
Castleknock equalised within 30 seconds of the restart but Towers responded when Kelly again won a kickout and O’Connor carrried before teeing up Rigany to finish. It was again tit-for-tat with Castleknock equalising before Leech kicked an excellent score from the left, after Conor Broderick had won well in the full-back line. Leech then broke onto a long ball inside and struck over. But Castleknock responded with two points before their influential centre-half forward Conor Chawke released midfielder Darragh Warnock and he struck to the net from close range, giving Douglas no chance. Towers were now trailing by three, 3-7 v 2-13 and the deficit was narrowed when substitute Lu Silowong won possession back and Richardson set up Leech to point. A goal opening was almost created for substitute Ciaran Courtney but he was crowded out and Castleknock kicked three without reply to stretch the lead to five with four minutes remaining. Moran played a good inside pass to Richardson and when he was fouled Leech converted. O’Connor then kicked a long-range score but a long-range free gave Castleknock a four point cushion. Towers pushed for a goal but a late close-range free was driven wide. Two games have been played within the six team group, with losses now incurred to Thomas Ashe and Castleknock. Next on the schedule for our boys is an away tie to Naomh Barróg on 7th October.
Round Tower: Oisín Douglas, Jack Quinlan, Alex Judge, Conor Broderick, Matthew Kelly, Alex O’Neill, Lee Moran, Jack Halpin, Joe Murray, Alex Doyle, Liam O’Connor, Eoin Richardson, Andrew Rigany, Seán Casey, Joey Leech. Subs: Lu Silowong, Ciaran Courtney, Senan Walsh, Conor Morrow
